USA > Indiana > Allen County > Fort Wayne > Fort Wayne in 1790 > Part 4
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17th. Froze hard last night-Most beautifull day .- This evening we had a Dance at Mr. Dufrenes by Mr. Anto'n Las- sells invitation were all the Descent Ladies of this place were Present .- Signified to the Canadians this day my wish for them to fire three Vollies to morrow in consequence of its be- ing Her Majesties Birth Day, which they unanimously assented to, to my utmost expectations.
18th. Jan'y. Her Majestys Birth Day.5ยบ God Bless her- We accordingly fired three Vollies as was proposed yesterday. I gave them the word of Command myself-Posted Mr. Adam- her as an Officer on the Right & Mr. de Seleron on the left- Gave the young fellows a Gallon of Rum-a bottle to the Grie at his own Request-The Snake51 & some of the Principal Shawanies are here-I made them & the Grie acquainted with the Reason of the Rejoicing.
50The birthday of Queen Charlotte of England was May 19. I am unable to suggest an explanation of Hay's apparent error in this respect.
51The Snake was chief of a band of Shawnee whose village in 1792 was in the vicinity of Grand Glaize. O. M. Spencer, who saw him on the occasion of a visit to Blue Jacket, describes him as "a plain, grave chief, of sage appearance." op. cit., 29.
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About 2 o'clock this afternoon I was apprized by Mr. J. B. Lassell that the young Canadian Volunteers intended to come & thank me & give me a Vollie in the front of the House-I immediately went home & they appeared in about a 14 of an hour to my great surprise with a Drum & the fiddle we had in the morning; they were headed by one of the Serjeants I made in the morning .- After they had fired their Volley, they begged I would head them & march to the Houses of Mr. Adamher Mr. Seleron & Mr. Leith to pay them the same com- pliment which I did .- I proposed to Mr. Leith that he and I should give dance this Evening which he assented to, conse- quently Mr. Ironside & myself immediately went round to all the Ladies & Gentlemen of the place and invited them.
..
19th Sunday. I never enjoyed myself at a Dance better than I did last night. The Gentlemen & Ladies all appeared dressed in their best bibs & Tuckers, & behaved very descently not one of the men the least in Liquor, & which is mostly the case in this place when they collect together-As Mr. Leith never walks a minuet I opened the Ball with Mr. Adamher- When Mrs. A .- entered the room I desired the fiddler to play, God save the King. I made Tangrie for the Ladies, and Grogg for the Gentlemen. Between IO & II o'clock we gave them Coffee, which Mrs. Adamher was so good as to make for us .- We danced some Dance Ronby, one particularly a very curious one-It was sung by Mrs. Rangard, the chorus was rather Bawdie- that is a good double intendre which was- Avee sons grand viesous viesous, avec sons grandpasse par- tous-at the end of the first chorus ; the piant a foot, the 2d two feet-the 3d a knee the 4 both knees, 5th and elbow, 6th bothe, 7th your head and 8th your bomb-so that the last sum- mons the whole up-your right foot plant, then left, I knee, 2d knee, I elbow, 2d elbow, your head & your bombe.
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As this is three nights now that I have danced, I find myself very tired this morning, my feet much swelled-And what with dancing, catching cold & given the word of Command yester- day I am quite hoarse .- I forgot to mention that yesterday was rather a disagreeable day-very muddy, misty, & now & then a little raine-began to Snow last night about II o'clock .- This is a very mild day .- Rather cloudy & Thick .- Mr. Lassell sett off this morning for Little Piconno, The Grie & Blue Jackett also for their different wintering Camps.
One Robidos a french man which Mr. Lassell sends express to Detroit, is likewise sett off this day.
Mr. Adamher & Mr. De Seleron made their appearance at the Ball with very fine fur caps on their heads, adorned with a quantity of Black Ostridge Feathers-Cockades made with white tinsell Ribbon, amasingly large-As their was a great deal of Mudd-Mrs. Payette who is an extraordinary large woman was sent for in a Carte, accompanied by her Husband & Daughter-Began to Snow again about 10 o'clock .- & Con- tinued till the evening. Spent this Evening at Mrs. Cicotts in Company with Mrs. and Miss Payette.
20th Wednesday. Began to blow excessively hard last night about II or 12 o'clock-froze very hard; this is the coldest day we have had yett. Payed a few visits this morning and Dined sans ceremonie, with Mr. Dufresne .- Went and drank coffee about 4 o'clock this afternoon with Mrs. Adamher ; The cold seem to increase as the sun setts.
21 Thursday. Froze very hard & excessively cold all night. -Something milder this morning-The Suns out which makes the weather very fine over head .- It became rather cloudy & thick about 10 o'clock, & in the Evening a very large ring round the moon-however about 8 o'clock it cleared up &
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... caught a Rabbit ...
began to freeze pretty smart but not so cold as yesterday-night.
22 Friday. Very fine day, not the least cold. It Thaws a good deal .- Young Mr. Lassell caught a Rabbit this morning in one of the snares he had laide for the purpose.
Several Putewatomies arrived this afternoon with Peltry & a great quantity of meat-viz. Venison, Rackoons, Porcupine, Bare & Turkeys &c. the most of which Mr. Abbott bought ; the Blanket its what the Indians want most at present & no one else except Mr. Dufresne has any at this Post but Mr. Abbott .- Beautiful Evening, not the least cold.
23 Saturday. Most beautifull day, quite warme-Scated about 1/2 an hour this morning on the River. Thaws a good deal which will soon carry off what little snow we have on the ground.
The Grie & Son arrived this afternoon from his wintering camps-He immediately sent for Mr. Ironside & me; when we went to him, he addressed himself to me-Son says he, here is my Son your Brother who has brought you a little meat to make you some broth which he beggs you will accept, I should not says he have come myself, but my Son who is very bashfull asked me to come with him.
24th Sunday. Very fine day, quite warm but dirty under foot owing to the great thawings.
We played cards & supped at Mr. Adamhers last night, there was a good many Gentlemen their. The Gries Son's present consisted of four Turkeys, two leggs and two sides of Venison exceedingly fatt. Sent a Turkey in a present to Mrs. Adamher -The Grie & Son breakfasted with us this morning according to invitation.
25th Monday. Very fine day-Froze hard last night. Spent the last Evening at Mrs. Scicotts-Mrs. Payett & Daughter
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were their-Mr. B. Lassell, Francis Lasse1152 & Mr. J. B. Richerville & myself went together-the fiddler came in about 7 o'clock and we danced 'till about 1/2 past 9 o'clock, then we broke up-took Mrs. Payett home & played her the Cuckold March. Frome that we adjourned to Mr. J. B. Lassells with the fiddler, w[h]ere we drank Grogg, & from that we went and Serenaded the young girls & women of the Village.
Turned out cloudy & Gloomy about 12 o'clock and con- tinued so 'till the Evening & most part of the night-
26th. No frost last night. This morning early it began to blow very hard & Snowed a little-Played cards last night at Mrs. Cicotts & serenaded the women again about il o'clock. Mr. Adamher informed me this [day] that a letter came to him yesterday directed to the Grie and to the Pishew (this last is Mr. J. B. Richerville) from the Porcupine & Soldier Chief of La Riviere a Languielle, telling them to have an eye over their young men & not to believe any false reports that goes about the county, that everything with respect to Lassell was totally false, & for the future not to believe those false reports, that they may depend upon it when ever any thing occurs they would send notice of it themselves, and never to hearken to any thing any one says except when it comes from people of char- acter and chiefs who may be depended upon-for they cannot tell a Lye-
The Grie breakfasted with us this morning & went off imme- diately after for his wintering camp. Begins to freeze about 2 o'clock. a very fine Evening.
52Francis Lasselle was a nephew of Antoine; his father, Jacques Lasselle was Indian agent at Miamitown from 1776 until 1780. When La Balme attacked the place in the latter year he fled by boat down the Maumee River with his family.
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27th. Wednesday. Very fine day-froze very hard all Night ; left off blowing about 8 o Clock last night. We had a little hopp last night at Mr. Adamhers sans ceremonie. Turned out thick & cloudy about 1 or 2 o Clock-and about 5 began to blow very fresh-freeze hard and a little Snow-The Gros Loup (a Mohicken Indian who has lived amongst the Miames ever since his Infancy), gave me a love letter which he picked up in some place or other-Its dated New Madrid, May 6th, 1789 signed by J. S. Story and directed to Miss Betsey Gray, Ipswich Massechusech.
This is my mothers Birth day-God bless her-42 years of age.53
28th. Thursday. A very bitter cold day, froze hard all night. Yesterday Evening arrived here a Mr. Lafontenne54 a Trader who left this about 36 days ago-He went down the Wabache River then turned into the woods towards White River & their traded with the Indians .- he made 80 Deer Skins and about 500 Rackoons .- which he brought upon the horses he took out his goods upon-however he did not trade all his goods away, for he fetch'd some back-Its very extraordinary that meat was so difficult to be had that he & the Indian that
53 Marie Julie Reaume was born at Detroit in 1748. She married Jehu Hay and became the mother of several children in addition to our journalist. She died at Detroit, March 23, 1795. In 1793 Henry Hay petitioned for 5000 acres of land by way of a pension for his mother, which was granted. See Mich. Pion. & Hist. Colls., XX, 691; XXIV, 557.
54 Probably Francis La Fontaine, who had been engaged in the Indian trade at Miamitown at least since 1780. According to La Balme's information, La Fon- taine was then in charge of the warehouse of Charles Beaubien, the principal trader of the place. Beaubien had married the mother of J. B. Richardville, the Marie Louisa of Hay's Journal. Enraged over the plundering of their ware- house, Beaubien and La Fontaine incited the Indians to make the attack upon La Balme which resulted in the destruction of his little force. La Fontaine had a son, Francis, who married a daughter of Richardville and upon the death of that chieftain in 1841 succeeded him as chief of the Miami.
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was with him were five days feeding on acorns on their return home. The fifth day in the Evening he sent the Indian on the look-out for Indian hutts to purchase meat, who fell in with a large Rackoon Tree which he cutt down & found five in it, which was a great resource; nothing extraordinary in the Indian Country.
29th. Friday. Exceedingly cold all night, rather cloudy & thick this morning, about 10 'Clock began to snow .- Messrs. Adamher, Dufresne & La Fontenne played cards here last night- Turned out rather milder this afternoon; about 8 o'clock this Evening it began to blow & Snow very hard- The snow drifted a good deal-The wind did not continue long.
30th. Saturday. Very fine day over head-a great deal of Snow fell this last night-Not quite so cold as yesterday morn- ing .- Began to freeze about 5 o'clock this evening-very clear sky.
3Ist. Sunday. Mild snowy morning, took a ride on a car- riolle this day with Mr. J. B. Richerville, as far as Mr. James Girtys House which is about two miles-Several Indians ar- rived this day from different places with peltry-This after- noon about 4 or 5 o'clock arrived here Mr. George Girty from his wintering camp with two loaded horses of Peltry. Brought with him his wife & two sisters in law (Indians)-He confirms the intention of Delawares going to the Spaniards in the spring, but says not many of them. Snowed the whole blessed day & part of the Evening.
Ist February. Monday. Snowy morning & very mild. Mr. G. Girty returned this day to his camp; Mr. Ironside accom- panied him & returned in the evening with his horses loaded with Peltry .- The Snow did not continue-very gloomy day-
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Mr. James Girty55 told me this Evening that Capt. Johnny Chief of the Shawanees was collecting all the Indians together to a Grande Council-He also shew'd me a red scalp which he got from a Delaware Indian; the meaning of this Scalp he does not know as yet, but it seems it must be sent into Detroit by the first opportunity.
2d Tuesday. Frooze exceedingly harde last night-Cold & Snowy morning-Turned out a very fine Sun Shiny day about 1/2 past I o'Clock-Still continues to freeze hard-Wind N. Several Ottawas came in this morning from hunting, & brought their furr with them-Mr. Cicotts man arrived this morning from their excursion to la Riviere a L'anguille. Left Mr. Ci- cott about three Leagues from here, his Horse having given out ; This man is to return to him immediately with a fresh one. Mr. Abbott, a Trader, of this place one of our disaffected subjects has been I'm told trying to traduce his brother Traders, by telling the Indians that every trader here was a Soldiar that the Good [s] they had was not theirs & that they were selling for other people-but, says he is quite different with me every thing that I have here is my own & I owe no one anything whatsoever-
It seems that he collected some Indians this day at his House & told them that every Trader here has a pass & that they were obliged to have one, but as for him he had no such thing as a Pass. (which by the by is the case).56 I'm further in-
55On James Girty see supra note 36. For a comprehensive sketch of his career, see Thwaites and Kellogg, Frontier Defense on Upper Ohio, 234, 235, O. M. Spencer gives an unpleasing account of Girty's brutality toward him while a captive at Grand Glaize in 1792. op. cit., 43.
56 For a contemporary account by William Robertson of the practice of issuing passes to those wishing to trade out of Detroit see Mich. Pion. & Hist. Colls., XI, 639. Robertson stated that at that time, (1788) passes were no longer required. Hay's statements on the subject seem to contradict this.
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formed that he spoke to the Indians of Major Murray & Capt. McKee in so disrespectfull a manner that they are determined to send Strings of Wampum into Detroit immediately to informe them of it. There is several other things that has passed which has not as yet to come to my ears. Mr. Cicott arrived about 3 o Clock this afternoon.
3d. Wednesday. Froze very hard all last night-Cold morn- ing Wind N. Rather thick over head. Spent the Evening last night at Mr. Dufresne's played cards .- Mr. Abbott proposed my going with him as a Companion in the Spring to Port Vin- cennes-I told him I could not think of venturing my Carcass to such a place as that, among a parcel of renegards-This day about 12 o Clock arrived here Mr. Kinzie from Detroit which he left the 23d of last month-Received a letter from Major Murray and another from my Brother-also one from the Glaize from Mr. Sharpe acquainting me of his being obliged to leve my horse at that place as he had given out ; and was in a bad condition-However Mr. Kinzie informs me that he's in a fair way at present owing to the good care of Mr. McDonnell who stays at the Glaize .-
Mr. Kinzie tells me the Major is very well pleased with my conduct, for having informed him of what passed at this place & a great deal of party work at Detroit, Damn'd glad I'm not amongst them. I look upon it that I'm far better off at this place, tho' ever so much out of the World. Haile and Raine this Evening about 7.
4th. Thursday. Snowed and froze hard from 12 o'clock last night & till this morning early-Began to snow again about 8 o'Clock & still continues. Cleared up about 3 o'clock this after- noon-freezes hard this Evening, Very Winday. Several In- dians, (Principally Shawnee) arrived this Evening with a quantity of Peltry. The Snake has passed three days with us
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here-He returned to his Camp this afternoon .- As we began some few days ago to establish a society, call'd the Most Light Honorable Society of the Monks, we have this Evening com- pleated it-Mr. Leith is appointed Grand Master and Commis- sary-Hay Secretary, J. B. Richerville, J. B. Lassell, Francis Lassell, Geo. Ironside & J. Kinzie, La Chambre, Musician to the Society. Rules are to be drawn out for which hereafter no one will be allowed to be a member without he gives his Honor that he will truely & voluntarily stick by them, and support them with all his might &c &c &c.
5th. Friday. Little snow this morning early. Rather thick over head. The weather much milder; but still pretty cold- Saw Mr. Cicott yesterday-nothing in that part of the Indian Country that he's been in .- Turned faire about 1/2 past ten o Clock. The sun out .- Mr. Ironside & James Girty are gone down this afternoon to the Shawanee's village about 3 miles from here to try & get their peltry.
Turned exceedingly cold about 12 o'clock-Very high wind -N. W. Mr. J. B. Richervilles mother arrived this day from her wintering camp-Went & paid her a visit about I OClock- She has been a handsome woman-
6th. Saturday. Supped last night with J. B. Lassell, Kinzie, Richerville & F. Lassell were there-we played cards till 1/2 past I oClock-Froze much harder & the cold much keener this last night than it has been this winter. Very beautifull Sun Shiny day & quite calme. Very mild Evening.
7th. Sunday. A Little Snow this morning-High wind-S. Quite mild-It Thaws. Snow & very high wind this Evening.
8th. Monday. Cold morning-Froze very hard most part of the night. The Rules of our Community (which is now call'd the Friars of St. Andrew ) are drawn out by the Grand Master
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3
C
>
C
. Mr. B. Richer villes mother arrived ..
and this day to be copied and translated into French by the Secretary. This Evening Mr. Leith collected the Friars of St. Andrew and made them acquainted with the articles they are to abide by, after which each member got a copy of them.
9th Tuesday. Froze very hard all night & exceedingly cold -It continues very cold-altho' the Sun is out. Wind W. and very Strong all day, this day is absolutely the Coldest we have had this winter as far as this, & its the opinion of every one as well as myself.
IOth. Wednesday. Froze hard last night; Very fine clear day over head, but still very cold. Wind W. but not so strong as yesterday. Not quite so cold this Evening as the last.
IIth. Thursday. Much milder than yesterday; Rather Clowdy & Thicker over head .- It was an excessive cold night notwith-standing. Visited Mrs. Adamher this afternoon- Copy'd off the two french songs that she made; respecting her Stolen Pigg,-And the Miamies Recollects.
12th. Friday. Very fine day over head, Rather colder than yesterday, Not very cold this last night ; it began to freeze hard about day breake. This afternoon arrived here one Claire- mont from the Petit Piconno, says Mr. Lassell arrived theire about 15 days ago. Nothing extraordinary in that part of the Country-was 8 days on his way here.
13th Saturday .- very beautifull day, not the least cold .- Some Indians have lately been near the Ohio-on this side of it it seems they fell in with a Party of Americans, killed some of them & stole their horses, and took a negro Prisoner, one of those Indians a Shawanee who goes by the name of the Horse Jockey was wounded in the breast & hand by his own Tomyhauk which the American had wrested from him. The
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Indian however got the better & killed him. The above ac- count we got several days ago.
This morning about 1/2 past 10 oClock a Party of warriors of the Shawanies Nation brought in a Prisoner-They took him on this side of the Ohio at the mouthe of Kentuck.
The Party that took him were out hunting last Spring, dur- ing which time some Miamis went to war and returned a dif- ferent road they went & passed by this hunting party, the Americans pursued them & fell in with the Hunters & killed several of them women & Children &c. one Joseph Sovereigns who had been a Prisoner from his infancy was killed at that place ;- These People went out last fall to revenge themselves & took this Prisoner who was out hunting much about the same place w[h]ere their own people were killed. Mess. Leith, Ironside & myself went down to the Chilicothe village of Shawanese57-They were then in council-that is the young man who took the Prisoner was given a very minute Report of all what passed-which they are obliged to do-This party is not of this village, they belong to the Messessinoue58 Vil- lage. The Reason for bringing him here is, that he's given to a man of this village.
Little Raine & Sleete this afternoon, turned out Snow this Evening.
14th. Sunday. Very disagreeable day. It thaws very much. -The Prisoner will not be hurt-Black Bairde Chiefe of the Chilicothe Village is not at home; Theire will be a ceremony whe [n] he arrives to adopt this Prisoner-I forgot to mention that when they came in with him yesterday, he held in his hand
57Two miles below Miamitown.
58The modern Mississinewa. The Miami name of the stream is Na-ma-tci- sin-wi, meaning 'it slants," i. e., there is much fall in the river.
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a Shishequia which he kept ringing in his hand. (its made of deer's hoofs) singing out lowde the words Oh Kentuck. His face was painted as black as Divils-which will be rubbed off as soon as he is adopted by one of the Roy'l Family-He'll be washed & cleaned up &c. When they came into the Town they stopped at a French mans house-Several Indians of their ac- quaintance went up to them & shook hands with them & the Prisoner, which was a good sign respecting the latter ;- For we were apprehensive that they would burn him, as they went to war upon a revenge. They have its seems got a good many Horses this Trip .- Mr. Kinzie & Mr. James Girty went down this afternoon to see this Prisoner; Kinzie informed him that he need not be upon any apprehension for his life & that he was very lucky in being in hand that he was; Kinzie asked him where he was borne he answered Richmond in Virginia, that he left that place a little better than a month that he came thro' the Wilderness to Kentucky to get a debt that was due him in that Country that he was Several days in Kentucky-& not more than two at the mouthe of the River, when he was pro- posed by two other young men to cross the Ohio & hunt Turkey saying there was a great number of them, they had not been crossed but a very little time after separating themselves in different parts of the wood, when he perceived the other two making for the River, he did the same, but too late for they had already got into the Canoe & were actually crossing over, he attempted to take the woods but could not, the Indians had him between them & the River, however he tryed what he could do, & attempting to look round he received a knock in the forehead with a War Billet, (which was thrown by one of the Indians with an intention of hitting him in the Neck) he was immediately seized by another Indian, the other called out
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not to hurt him; which they did not .- The Chiefe who was out hunting heard of a prisoner being taken sent word imme- diately that he should not be hurt-Its about fifteen days ago since he was taken-They have washed his face-but not his boddy, which will be done & also cleanly dressed when the Chiefe Black (Bairde) arrives, a Belt of Wampums is now making which will be thrown over his head when he's adopted & which he'll ware. He's being lately from Virginia shews very plainly that he was not in the action last Spring, and that some evil minded people who wanted to hurt him in the mind of the Indians-He's quite a young man, his name is McMullen.
15th. Monday. Rained, Hailed, Thunder'd & Lightened about day breake this morning as if heaven & Earth was com- ing together-Still Rains-Did not raine much after 10 o'Clock, but Springkled which made it very dis-grable-The weather much changed, we were obliged to open the windows almost all day .- Dined with J. B. Richerville in company with J. B. Lassell, F. L. & Kinzie.
16th Tuesday. What with Thaw & Raine the Snow is almost off the Grounde. Rained pretty smart this morning- Rained very hard all day-
17th Wednesday. Yesterday being Mardi Gras the Friars of St. Andrew, supped together at Mr. Richervilles. Mr. Iron- side being unwell could not come. They sang a good many songs & retired to their cells in good time-The water has risen exceedingly this last night-at least 12 feet. Break- fasted this morning at Mr. J. B. Richervilles-Rained most part of the night.
18th. Thursday. Water much higher, it now runs thro the Village in such a manner that it separates it in three parts- the place that it runs in at, is quite rappid; This part of Vil-
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lage is quite low & small rising ground on each side, occasioned by the great flood last year, when it seems the people were obliged to desert their houses & take for the Rising Hills in the woods & their encamp. The water is now within two feet of being level with the bank of the River which is not less than eighteen feet high, the River is at present about twice as broad as it was, before the water began to rise. Weather quite Milde but Clowdy. Water enough in the River for the Rebecca59 to Swim in. The rappid so very strong, that its as much as two men can do to bring up a Canoe.
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